Forgách Palace
Building, structure
The Forgách family, who played a significant role in the history of Hungary, built their one-story palace in the classicist style between 1845-47. It stands at the southern end of Fő Street in Košice, the axis of the historic city center. The defining elements of its facade are the slightly protruding, tympanic central projection: columns with Doric capitals carved from red stone, and the large, iron-railed balcony they support. ; Its builders were Count Kálmán Forgách (1824-1878) and his wife, Baroness Eleonóra Pongrácz (1823-1916), who married in 1844. ; The local government operated in the historic building in the 1850s, later it became the location of the Úri Casino from 1878, and it became the headquarters of Hungarian Christian social organizations and parties. In 1939-40, the courtyard was covered with a glass dome and the Felvidéki Bank moved into it. This was replaced by the Tatra Banka in 1948. Since 1961, a library, today the State Scientific Library, has been operating in the beautifully renovated building. ; The city tourist center's sightseeing tours ("Kosice Wanderings") start from in front of this house, also with Hungarian-language guidance.